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There was a profound message ministered to my heart tonight, and I thought I should share it with you so that you, too, may be blessed.

I'm a young woman who has seen the face of disappointment one too many times. Hard work, dedication and diligence have brought good things to my life but I found myself wanting more, something more meaningful. In church, I would hear message after message about how God has come through for people in the bible. Take Abraham (formerly known as "Abram") for example: He was an old man, and his wife was old too. They had no children. God promised Abraham that He would bless him with a son, and that he would be the father of many nations. Abraham was assured that through him, nations would be blessed. Later, God granted Abraham a son.

The story that touched my heart was that of Hannah, a woman who was barren and shared her husband with Peninnah. For years, she was tormented because she was barren, and in anguish and pain she called out to God to bless her with a child. Before the man of God, Eli, she poured out her heart, wept at the feet of God and cast her burdens unto Him. After she was blessed by Eli, God remembered her and granted her a son, Samuel. The beauty I found in this story was where Hannah chose to dedicate Samuel to God, that he may dwell with Him forever. I don't know about you, but there is something profound about this.

As children of God, we forget that what we possess, be it tangible (like our property, money, family, etc.) or intangible (our emotions, talents/gifts, our souls, etc.) does not belong to us. Nothing belongs to us! All that we are, all that we have belongs to God. Hannah understood this, and as a result she dedicated her son, the only child she bore, to God. There is something amazing that happens next: Samuel later grows to become a man of God, who carried the word of God everywhere he went. See, the anointing had come when Hannah gave Samuel up.

I believe that the same can happen with us today! I believe that when we give up our talents, gifts, emotions and souls to God, He can do AMAZING things with them and through us. These, and others, are our prized possessions and (I know) letting go is never easy. I believe that is the ultimate sacrifice we can make, just as God gave His only son to die for the sins of those who God had created, is creating and will create. God calls us to give of ourselves that He may deliver others out of darkness through us. That is what we are called to do. Had Hannah not done what she did, Israel would have been without a king, the people would have continued worshipping Baal and other gods, missing out on the glory of God. The same thing could happen to the world around us: we could chose to not give our all to God, and rob the world of His glory...

I have a BIG dream, and because of this story I want to dedicate my dream to God. In the process of birthing it, I vow to let God take over, to take control and to reign over my dream. I pray that He remember me in my times of anguish, that He hear my prayers in the times when I need Him most. May my life be an offering unto Him. May He see me in all I do, and may Hod glory radiate from within me. I pray that the same excitement evoked within me be evoked within you, and may you follow suit.

The grace and mercy of God keep you and follow you all the days of your life. Be blessed...